Anyone out there load 22 mag. rimfires. I just got in 1000 22 mag rimfire brass. I want to load 55 gr. Sierra Blitz Varmiter. I'm thinking about (H) Lil'gun powder????? Any help will be appreciated! Jeff

Anyone out there load 22 mag. rimfires. I just got in 1000 22 mag rimfire brass. I want to load 55 gr. Sierra Blitz Varmiter. I'm thinking about (H) Lil'gun powder????? Any help will be appreciated! Jeff
Are you kidding? Butch

How you gonna swage the little firing pin indentation outa the rim?

<<How you gonna swage the little firing pin indentation outa the rim?>>

Much less reprime the cases?, or resize them?

==Bob

I guess you Guy's are not "REALLY INTO LOADING". I just got in 1000 pieces of primmed Win. 22 Mag brass. YOU REALLY CAN GET IT!!!! Most Guy's just pull bullets from there brand. and reload a different bullet (ANY 22 Cal.) The reloads are mostly used for small steel plate shoots.Where they need a heavier grain bullet for nock down. Most load, 55 gr. Sierra "BLITZ". I'm going to shoot varmits and want a heavier and better built bullet. Like I said, most just put in different bullet and use the original powder. I might try Lil'Gun. Thats what is used in the 17 Hornady Mag. YOU ALL JUST KEEP ON GRINNING AND MAKING "SMART REMARKS". That's OK!!! But I will be doing something really interesting that You will Not. If anyone's interested in reloading 22 mags , email me! You will need a RCBS 25 ACP shell holder and a 22 hornet seater die. HA HA!!!!!!!!! non-believers!!!! Jeff, I can tell You how to get primmed 22 mag brass!

Have loaded .22mag...can't recommend the process, but in this case wanted to have some 62gr. cast bullet sub-sonic loads. Not too much danger in loading to that level (1030fps) but I've my doubts about loading it towoards the upper limits of pressure, simply becasue there is no real reliable way to gauge pressure at home at this pressure level.

Except for a few single shots, all the repeating actions leave a good bit of the case rim unsuported (take a look at the bolt...it covers between 1/2 and 2/3 the rim, there is a good bit just handing in the air). Step a little over the edge, and that unsuported rim can be a problem. If you do go this way, that's probably the first place to show problems and if you ignore them, may find that .22mag. actions don't handle gas escapes as well as they could.

NOt saying you can't do it...you can...but am saying that you are on yourown...to most of us, asking for load data is like asking to hold the ladder while you climb it with a noose.

Have loaded .22mag...can't recommend the process, but in this case wanted to have some 62gr. cast bullet sub-sonic loads. Not too much danger in loading to that level (1030fps) but I've my doubts about loading it towoards the upper limits of pressure, simply becasue there is no real reliable way to gauge pressure at home at this pressure level.

Except for a few single shots, all the repeating actions leave a good bit of the case rim unsuported (take a look at the bolt...it covers between 1/2 and 2/3 the rim, there is a good bit just handing in the air). Step a little over the edge, and that unsuported rim can be a problem. If you do go this way, that's probably the first place to show problems and if you ignore them, may find that .22mag. actions don't handle gas escapes as well as they could.

NOt saying you can't do it...you can...but am saying that you are on yourown...to most of us, asking for load data is like asking to hold the ladder while you climb it with a noose.
I know that it can be done as I have loaded ammo that Red Cornelison loaded 15-20 yrs. ago. 17-22mag and 17-22LR. If you want a sample let me know and I will mail you one. Do you have a source for brass? Where? Butch

No need...the only thing I needed to do was to get a cast 62gr. bullet up to 1020-1050fps for a buddy's specail project. That done, no need or urge to load .22mag. again. They worked for what he wanted to so, he's found a better solution to that particular problem so there is no need to duplicate that ammo. While I shoot a good bit of .22mag. ammo in a year, am content with what's currently offered.

One thing I did learn...can lathe a fired .22mag. case to leave a bit of the existing fired rim, ream the thickened internal brass, insert a .22LR case (the amount of rim left on the .22mag. should equal out to the correct .22mag. headspace...as well as keep the extractor from just pulling the .22LR case from teh althed .22mag. case). With the empty rpimed case in place, acting as a new priming system, can load low velocity loads (wouldn't advise this trick for high vel./pressure loads).

This is pretty amazing! Loading 22 mag rimfire cases! Actually it is. But I'm still wondering why? Is there some reason to go to the level of work to load a commonly available rimfire caliber with loads that simulate low end loads of another commonly available centerfire caliber? (22 Hornet)

I'm not trying to be contrary or critical, Ive done things other people wouldn't be interested in, but I'm a bit baffled. The Hornet is a pretty interesting caliber to me. I guess this is what makes the world an interesting place.

At the time, wanted a good sub-sonic load that had a bit of punch to it...the 60gr. Aquila LR load wasn't being made yet. With an upper vel. limit, the only way to get a little extra "thump" is to use a heavier bullet.

Not using jacketed bullets at this low vel. range seemed a good idea, so cast bullets were used. Besides, blunter cast bullets would allow the weight for the length needed to spin in a 1:10twist at this low speed. Established a load at that not only averged 1040fps, but had no single shot go above 1055fps.

Wouldn't do it again.

Are right...the lathing of a fired case, leaving a bit of "flange" from the original rim, was just for fun. No real use to that, just wanted to see if it could be done.

Can also turn single cases big-bore rim fire cases from steel with an off-set rebated .22 hole towards the edge...the .22 rim being in the right off-set to take the firing pin hit. Dixie at least use to sell them in .38RF and larger. Looks like a steel big bore RF case, from the rear there is an offset to take a .22RF (usually a .22short case) as a new primer. Better to machine them much too thick (becuse if thin enough, it expands and is holy-**** to get back out of the chamber) and "cup" the front to take a ball (or a severly heeled bullet).


Unfortunatly is won't work with the 44Henry and it's dual firing pins. But ti does work in other big bore RF rifles.

Curiosity is what makes interesting things happen. The factories are often way behind the independant experimenters.
It's pretty amazing what people think up to do for projects! You don't even have much of a winter to blame down your way. Count yourself lucky, you'd think up a lot more things.

I decided one time I wanted 1 piece grips for my Ruger. Took a while, but I figured out how to split the grip frame, re-inforce the spring pad, and make it work. Turned out pretty good actually. Only took about 11 hours of welding, hand cutting, filing, and a couple more hours to fit the rosewood grip blank.

Buddy of mine made a door latch button for his microwave. Machined it from aluminum to replace the plastic part that broke. Only took about 6 hours or so. The microwave died a week later.

Right, can't blame cabin fever....hasn't even had a decent freeze (look forward to them...would be saved a few weeks of grass cutting come spring).

But it's a hobby in itself...your friend's taking the time to make a hinge is just part of the "fun". So we'll do things like boil horn until you can form it into grips...lathe out metal replacement parts for plastic ones...or figure a way to turn empty .22mag. cases into ammo (and if we figured it on a minimum wage scale, they'd be about 2 bucks a pop).

You can reload fired rimfire brass also. Put in the priming compound in the case and spin the case like a centrifuge and the compound goes to the outside under the rim. Most often the indent comes out far enough upon firing that the priming can get in between the two areas for reliable iqnition.

With the current laws, be a whole bunch more healthy not to be making priming compound at home...I'm a shooter and "gun-fiddler" at heart, but think even I'd not turn a blind eye to that kind of behavior.

Guys, I'm all for innovation and creativity, but not when it's dangerous to yourself or others. The other thing to think about is what inexperienced people may try based on our posts. Just something to think about.

Hey jcdflint, how much does the primed 22 mag brass cost? Does the Hornet seating die crimp OK?

Wonder what happened to our project guy? Was sort of curious if it was for real, and how it worked out.

Anyone out there load 22 mag. rimfires. I just got in 1000 22 mag rimfire brass. I want to load 55 gr. Sierra Blitz Varmiter. I'm thinking about (H) Lil'gun powder????? Any help will be appreciated! Jeff


hey guy send me a e-mail when you get a chance.
i would like to pick your brain about the 22 mag. reloads.
thanks in advance,
dog man


fillet@frtci.net

Wow. what an eye-opener. Not that I'll ever do it, as it seems way too much work for little return, but how do you seat the bullet?

i believe dies are available. I heard that rimfire reloading was common in the old USSR because you could only get just so much ammo per year. They made a tool to remove the firing pin dent.

Looks like a good way to load the Beartooth 45 grain cast RN. I have been looking for a heavy 22 mag bullet load for head shots on Louisiana swamp hogs.

Looks like a good way to load the Beartooth 45 grain cast RN. I have been looking for a heavy 22 mag bullet load for head shots on Louisiana swamp hogs.


Was tempted to zap this...the danges in doing this are very real and it might lead some people into real trouble.


1. Debulleting a rimfire round can be dangerous.
2. Debulleting a rimfire round can damage the priming even if it doesn't ignite it.
3. Count #1 and #2 twice...will be reloading it will have a "down stroke" for the up stroke
4. The cases are not all that strong and many of the rifles chambered for the round are not good about handing ruptured heads.

It's that #4 that is really dangerous. When it does happen, depending on the rifle's design, can be destrctive to your hand and the rifle. Besides the normal spray of brass, gas, and small parts out of he magazine well and ejection port, there is a path up through the bolt by the firing pin. Not many .22mag.s (or .22RF's) have a real good gas block from the firing pin channel, and that one is pointed back towards your face.

I live near Lewiston Idaho where CCI resides and have friends who work there. Accidents happen often enough at the plant with rimfire loading processes that I would consider this a very dangerous hobby.